Animal Experiments: Licensing

Question

Standard Condition 1 of all Establishment licences under The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 requires each establishment to have systems in place to ensure activities at the establishment follow the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement). On inspection, The Home Office requires documented evidence that establishment licence holders are fulfilling this standard condition. The Home Office will require documented evidence on compliance by delivery of governance structures at the establishment, including, but not limited to; the functioning of the local Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB); the functioning of named persons (particularly the Named Information Officer) and documented evidence that licences are reviewed during their lifetime for application of the 3Rs. The Home Office may also review applications as required and can require them to be amended if 3Rs developments become available in their lifetime.

Project licence applicants are required to ensure their programme of work does not involve any regulated procedures for which there is a scientifically satisfactory alternative method or testing strategy that does not entail the use of a protected animal. The Home Office requires applicants to provide information on which non-animal alternatives they have considered for the work they propose and describe why they are not suitable in achieving the objectives. Applicants are expected to make best endeavours in using search strategies. This should include the available searchable databases and resources such as those available through the NC3Rs website.

To ensure licence applicants effectively apply the 3Rs it is mandatory that all licence holders have undertaken accredited modular training on the 3Rs.